Foundation Academy volleyball scores come-from-behind win over Apopka

WINTER GARDEN — Trailing 13-6 in the fifth and final set of a match against the visiting Apopka Blue Darters, Foundation Academy needed a timeout.

With the match tied at two sets apiece and the Blue Darters just two points away from taking the first-to-15 deciding set, things looked dire for the Lions. 

Whatever was said in that timeout by head coach Danny Eleutiza, though, worked — Foundation came storming back to outscore Apopka 10-1 the rest of the way to take the final set, 16-14, and the match, 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 16-25, 25-10, 16-14).

“If you know Danny, he likes to yell, and he motivated us to keep going,” senior Megan Miller said, recalling that timeout huddle.

The upset-victory over the Blue Darters, who compete in the FHSAA’s Class 8A, was a significant win for the Lions (13-6), competing at the Class 2A level.

Megan Miller had 29 assists while her sister, sophomore outside hitter Lauren Miller, had 13 kills. Leah Williams had 22 digs to lead Foundation on defense.

“I think brought our energy up a lot,” Lauren Miller said. “Tonight I think we really brought it up and that helped us.”

For Eleutiza, a coach charged with trying to return the Lions to the Class 2A State Championship Game for a third consecutive year, the spirit his team displayed during Tuesday’s win maybe something it can build off of down the stretch of the regular season.

“It’s unbelievable — they came in and they didn’t want to lose,” Eleutiza said.